Winter Wonders

Cape Glossy Starling on the Mountain Aloe

Female    Sunbird on Coral Aloe             

Winter here in the Lowveld brings many delights; the glorious aloes bloom profusely throughout July and August and attract a host of visitors. 










Now is the time we spend many hours trying to get the ultimate photo of the different sunbirds, Starlings or the Black-headed Oriole with its haunting call.  

Black-headed Oriole on Mountain Aloe

The Oriole and Starlings are particularly attracted to the large mountain aloe (Aloe marlothii)  in the centre of the lodge gardens, whilst the tiny sunbirds with their long curved beaks flit around the smaller Coral aloes (Aloe striata) making their distinctive warbling call.

 Red Bougainvillea flower

Bougainvilleas in their vibrant colours make for a stunning show throughout the winter months and seem to thrive in the driest conditions.  

Purple Bougainvillea flower

Impala Lily

The impala lilies are beautiful at this time of year, beautiful pink and white blooms in the otherwise rather bare winter garden.

Finally our little Barred Owlet is seen here on a very chilly winter’s morning.  We spotted him sitting up in a knob-thorn tree near the house with his feathers fluffed up to keep out the cold. 

 

African barred owlet

Animals abound

This week we have been treated to some wonderful sights on the open plain in front of the viewing decks and our guests have enjoyed being able to sit and watch as zebra, impala, waterbuck, and kudu appeared in profusion.  

Three-legs take a drink at the bird pool

The spectacle began one morning with our friend ‘Three-legs’ coming up to the small bird pool for a morning drink.  He is still very much in evidence around the lodge and house, usually with ‘One-horn’ or in a small group of three or four males.

Male waterbuck

A beautiful male waterbuck then joined him at the birdbath whilst further down the slope there was a large herd of zebras, and at the waterhole two magnificent male kudu took a drink.

Two male kudu at the waterhole

 Another male waterbuck with a splendid set of horns came to the birdbath, and I was able to get some great photos in the mid-morning sunshine. 

Zebras at the waterhole

The following day we were treated to another great show when the same large herd of zebras came to the waterhole with seven giraffes all taking a drink together.   

It was a marvellous sight and we were very pleased to be able to share it with our guests.  

Five of the seven giraffes

Giraffes drinking

More and more the dry weather is encouraging the game to come to water as winter deepens.  We have had no rain for several months and the chances of any in the near future are slight so the animals are coming to permanent water with much more regularity. 

A magnificent waterbuck male

Sightings from the new camera trap

Our old friend, Soshangane, enjoying a drink at the bird bath

For some time now we have been wanting to position a camera trap on the waterhole and the bird bath to discover in particular animal sightings that happen after dark. 

Waterbuck males

We felt sure that there were many visitors that we were unaware of, and hoped the camera traps would give us an insight into the noctural world of Leopard's View. 

 Impala male

So far, we have positioned one camera trap at the bird bath and have already been delighted with the results, in particular the civet that was caught on camera a few nights ago. 

civet



A family of warthogs

We will be putting the other camera trap in place in the not too distant future and will be posting the sightings as soon as they arrive.  We are hoping that we will catch on camera the leopard who we know frequents the waterhole, but is very elusive, and usually appears from dusk to dawn. 

Black-backed jackal